PlayStation’s February 2025 State of Play wasn’t a total wash, but it didn’t meet everyone’s expectations. Sure, there were a few big reveals: Borderlands 4 got a release date, Lies of P confirmed upcoming DLC, Housemarque announced its new game SAROS, et cetera. But a lot of things that fans had hoped for were missing. There was no Death Stranding, no Ghost of Yotei, and that Metal Gear Solid Delta trailer leaked last week. There’s a lot that can be said about expectations versus the reality of events like these, but the fact is that many fans left disappointed.

But one game stood out from the pack, in spite of – or perhaps because of – the fact that it was a total surprise. It wasn’t a world premiere, but Lost Soul Aside has been so long in the making, and gone so long without providing any major updates, that many assumed it was dead. But the State of Play proved Lost Soul Aside is still coming, debuting a full trailer, featuring real gameplay footage actually captured on a PS5, and a release date of May 30 – the same day as Elden Ring Nightreign.

Lost Soul Aside Is Already Getting A Lot Of Hype

State Of Play’s Biggest Surprise

The announcement has caused a well-deserved uproar among fans and newcomers alike. Few expected Lost Soul Aside to make an appearance at the State of Play, but it’s already garnered a lot of attention. For a while, even after the show, it was the number one topic trending on X (formerly Twitter) alongside the State of Play itself. That arguably makes it one of the most talked-about reveals of the night.

From its explosive trailer and its almost immediately trending status, it’s clear that a lot of people have a lot of opinions about Lost Soul Aside. But if you haven’t been following it from the very beginning, it can be hard to understand the full context surrounding why.

What Kind Of Game Is Lost Soul Aside?

An Action RPG With A Hero’s Story

From everything in the trailer, it’s clear that Lost Soul Aside is a fairly standard action RPG with some pretty flashy combat. Its protagonist, Kazer, is seen swinging a fiery sword, dodging enemy blasts, and even, at one point, fighting an enormous, stony dragon. Its traversal mechanics are also on display in this trailer: Kazer is also seen sprouting wings, dancing along platforms, and riding a spectral surfboard. Earlier previews seemed to confirm that Lost Soul Aside would be an open-world game, with lots of exploration. That’s not directly confirmed here, but it does show off an impressive variety of locations.

The story of Lost Soul Aside appears to revolve around Kazer and a group of allies, who live in what looks like a contemporary fantasy setting. In a voice-over, a woman speaks of monsters attacking their world. Kazer will be forced to defend it against both the monsters and the humans that stand in his way. He’ll also travel between worlds – several are shown here, including futuristic cities, dreamlike floating islands, and remote snow-capped mountains – as he attempts to “reunite lost souls.”

Why People Are Hyped For Lost Souls Aside

Excellent Gameplay & A Storied Legacy

A major reason for all the excitement around it is that Lost Soul Aside has been in development for almost a decade. Previously the passion project of solo developer Yang Bing, Lost Soul Aside was revealed way back in 2016. It’s since received support from PlayStation’s China Hero Project, which supports Chinese development teams in the development, worldwide distribution, and marketing of their games. Since then, Lost Soul Aside has expanded to include a larger team: the debut studio UtiliZero Games. Some players, like @xDevilNeverCry are simply excited about it because they’ve been waiting so long.

Crazy to think it’s been 10 years. I’ll be there day one!! #LostSoulAside pic.twitter.com/zBMffl0aXX — DevilNeverCry (@xDevilNeverCry) February 12, 2025

For others, like @CaliGirlxoxoxo Lost Soul Aside is tantamount to the second coming of the canceled Final Fantasy Versus XIII. Originally presented as a Final Fantasy spinoff mixing Kingdom Hearts-style gameplay with a darker, more mature modern fantasy setting, Final Fantasy Versus XIII was subject to its own hype cycle after its reveal way back in 2006. The game was subject to a tumultuous development cycle, with several of its core elements scrapped, and was eventually released as Final Fantasy XV. Lost Soul Aside‘s creator has never been shy about discussing his influences, and Final Fantasy XV tops the list.

Lost Soul Aside had me go back to you. Can’t believe we got robbed 16 years ago. pic.twitter.com/IvyKj0FVRX — Jackie 🌙 – Trails Through Daybreak (@CaliGirlxoxoxo) February 13, 2025

And some, whether they’re aware of its legacy (like @MoreLimitless_) or not, just think Lost Soul Aside looks cool. It’s hard to argue with them. The combat looks flowy and exciting, the traversal mechanics look like a lot of fun, and there’s enough great character and enemy design to get you wondering about the story.

LOST SOUL ASIDE LOOKS AWESOME pic.twitter.com/oReh7RJgLl — Limitless (@MoreLimitless_) February 12, 2025

It’s always good to see entirely new IP from unknown developers thriving, so this early look at Lost Soul Aside isn’t just encouraging – it’s heartwarming, too. The game looks incredible, and its developers apparently have a lot to be proud of, even at this early stage. The rest will have to wait until Lost Soul Aside‘s full release.